Trinidad and Tobago rebounded from their opening loss in the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup with a hard-fought four-wicket win over Leeward Islands in a keenly contested encounter at Conaree Sports Club on Wednesday.
Veteran players Britney Cooper (72), Anisa Mohammed (32), and Lee-Ann Kirby (41 not out) played pivotal roles that guided Trinidad and Tobago to 190-6 with 15 balls to spare, as they successfully chased down Leeward Islands’ total of 188.
Cooper’s 107-ball knock featured seven boundaries, while Mohammed’s patient 96-ball 32 included three fours. Earlier in the match, Mohammed also took 3-26, combining effectively with Amrita Ramtahal (4-27) to restrict Leeward Islands, despite a commanding 76 from Reniece Boyce.
Opting to bat first, Leeward Islands made a decent start but lost openers Qiana Joseph (9) and Melicia Clarke (11) with only 36 runs on the board. Divya Saxena (32) then partnered with Boyce in a crucial 60-run stand for the third wicket before Saxena was caught by Cooper off Steffie Soogrim.
Boyce, who played a commanding 84-ball knock with four boundaries and four sixes, found another solid partner in Shawnisha Hector, who contributed a quick 35 off 30 balls, including three fours and two sixes.
Their 64-run fourth-wicket stand pushed Leeward Islands towards a competitive total. However, once Hector was dismissed by Samara Ramnath with the score at 160-4, the innings quickly unraveled. The lower order crumbled under sustained pressure from Ramtahal and Mohammed, as Leeward Islands lost their last six wickets for just 28 runs, falling short of the 200-run mark.
Trinidad and Tobago’s reply got off to a disastrous start as they lost both openers, Djenaba Joseph (3) and Shunelle Sawh (6), with just 10 runs on the board. However, Cooper and Mohammed steadied the innings with a crucial 89-run third-wicket partnership, as they patiently navigated the bowling attack.
When Mohammed was dismissed in the 33rd over, Leeward Islands struck again to remove captain Karishma Ramharack (7), leaving Trinidad and Tobago at 111-4.
Still, Cooper, unfazed, continued to accumulate runs and added another 44 alongside Kirby before falling just short of the target.
Despite a late scare with the dismissal of Soogrim (2), Kirby remained composed and finished with an unbeaten in a knock that three boundaries and three sixes, to seal the victory.
Jahzara Claxton (2-29) was the pick of Leeward Islands’ bowlers, but her efforts were not enough to prevent a second consecutive defeat.
With their first win secured, Trinidad and Tobago have put their title ambitions back on track, while Leeward Islands remain the only team without a victory in the tournament.